SelectedTextKit

A modern macOS library for getting selected text with multiple fallback strategies, smart volume management, and powerful pasteboard utilities.

It's a part of Easydict.

Features

• ✅ Multiple Text Retrieval Strategies

  • Accessibility: Get selected text via Accessibility API (AXUI)
  • Menu Action: Get selected text by menu bar copy action
  • Keyboard Shortcut: Get selected text by Cmd+C with muted system volume
  • AppleScript: Get selected text from browsers using AppleScript
  • Auto: Intelligent fallback with multiple methods
  • Custom Strategy Arrays: Define your own combination of strategies

• ✅ Smart Fallback System

  • Configurable strategy combinations
  • Automatic retry with different methods
  • Graceful error handling and recovery

• ✅ Pasteboard Protection

  • Backup and restore pasteboard contents
  • Execute temporary tasks without polluting user's pasteboard
  • Volume management to prevent system beep sounds

• ✅ Cross-Language Support

  • Modern Swift API with async/await
  • Objective-C compatibility

• ✅ Clean Architecture

  • Manager-based design
  • Separate concerns (Text, Accessibility, Pasteboard)
  • Extensible and maintainable code structure

Installation

Swift Package Manager

Add the following to your Package.swift:

dependencies:[.package(url:"https://github.com/tisfeng/SelectedTextKit.git", from:"2.0.0")]

Or add it through Xcode: File → Add Package Dependencies

Usage

Swift (Recommended)

import SelectedTextKit
privatelettextManager=SelectedTextManager.shared
func example()async{do{
// Option 1: Use auto strategy (recommended for most cases)
if let selectedText =tryawait textManager.getSelectedText(strategy:.auto){print("Selected text: \(selectedText)")}
// Option 2: Use custom strategy array with ordered fallbacks
let strategies:[TextStrategy]=[.accessibility,.menuAction,.shortcut]
if let text =tryawait textManager.getSelectedText(strategies: strategies){print("Text from custom strategies: \(text)")}
// Option 3: Use specific strategies for browsers (order matters)
let browserStrategies:[TextStrategy]=[.appleScript,.accessibility]
if let text =tryawait textManager.getSelectedText(strategies: browserStrategies){print("Text from browser: \(text)")}
// Option 4: Use individual strategy methods
if let text =tryawait textManager.getSelectedText(strategy:.menuAction){print("Text from menu copy: \(text)")}
// Option 5: Use shortcut strategy with muted volume
if let text =tryawait textManager.getSelectedText(strategy:.shortcut){print("Text from shortcut copy: \(text)")}}catch{print("Error: \(error)")}}

Available Text Strategies

// All available strategies
publicenumTextStrategy{case auto // Intelligent fallback (accessibility → menu action)
case accessibility // Get text via Accessibility API
case appleScript // Get text from browsers via AppleScript
case menuAction // Get text via menu bar copy action
case shortcut // Get text via Cmd+C (with muted volume)
}
// Create ordered strategy arrays (execution order matters!)
letbrowserStrategies:[TextStrategy]=[.appleScript,.accessibility,.menuAction,.shortcut]letfallbackStrategies:[TextStrategy]=[.accessibility,.menuAction,.shortcut]

API Reference

Core Methods

• getSelectedText(strategy: TextStrategy) - Get text using a specific strategy
• getSelectedText(strategies: [TextStrategy]) - Get text using multiple strategies with ordered fallback

Available Strategies

Strategy	Description	Best For
.auto	Smart fallback (accessibility → menu action)	Recommended - Most reliable
.accessibility	Direct Accessibility API	Fast, lightweight access
.appleScript	Browser automation via AppleScript	Safari, Chrome, Firefox
.menuAction	System menu bar copy action	When accessibility is limited
.shortcut	Cmd+C with muted system volume	Universal compatibility

Requirements

• macOS 11.0+
• Swift 5.7+

Dependencies

• AXSwift - Accessibility framework
• KeySender - Keyboard event simulation

Acknowledgments

• Menu bar copy action inspired by Copi by s1ntoneli

License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.